Why Walking Is Medicine For The Body and Mind

Walking is a low-impact, aerobic exercise that is easy to do, doesn't require any special equipment, and can be done almost anywhere. It is a powerful medicine for the body and mind, with numerous benefits such as reducing inflammation, improving gut health and digestive-related issues like IBS, IBD, bloating, gas, and constipation, enhancing mental health, reducing anxiety and depression, balancing hormones, and helping to tone the body and lose weight.

One of the reasons why walking is said to be medicine is because it can help reduce inflammation in the body, which is a major contributor to a wide range of health issues, including chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Walking can also be highly beneficial for gut health and related issues because it stimulates the muscles of the digestive tract, aiding in the movement of food through the system and promoting healthy digestion. Regular walking can help regulate the secretion of digestive enzymes and reduce stress levels, which can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome and prevent and improve digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, gas, and bloating.

In addition, walking has been shown to have positive effects on mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving mood, and increasing feelings of well-being. This is due to the release of endorphins, natural mood-boosting chemicals in the body, and the calming effect of being outdoors in nature.

Walking can also help balance hormones, which can significantly impact overall health and well-being. Regular walking has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can contribute to a range of health issues such as infertility, weight gain, high blood pressure, and anxiety.

Another incredible benefit is that walking is an aerobic exercise, and aerobic exercises, believe it or not, are one of the best ways to tone the body and lose weight compared to anaerobic exercises like running, HIIT, cardio, and high-intensity workouts. Walking also helps tone the body and aid in weight loss by increasing muscle mass and improving metabolism. By engaging multiple muscle groups, walking can help burn calories and promote healthy weight loss.

Why aerobic exercise (like walking) help you lose weight and tone the body better than anaerobic exercises, like running, HIIT, cardio, and high-intensity workouts:

Aerobic exercise involves sustained, moderate-intensity activity that can be maintained for longer periods of time. During aerobic exercise, the body uses oxygen to produce energy, which means it can sustain activity for longer periods of time without fatigue. Side note: this increased oxygen consumption also aids in the recovery and repair of damaged tissues and cells, which makes aerobic exercises (like walking) very healing to the body. This sustained activity requires the body to continuously burn calories, which can result in a greater overall calorie burn than with anaerobic exercise.

As walking provides such profound benefits for the body and mind, it is recommended to walk on a daily basis, with a minimum duration of 30 minutes per day, and work your way up to 60 minutes per day or more.